Decorate to Celebrate #83 - Fall or Birthday

This is my first post of three...please scroll up for Day 3 of the My Craft Spot Sneak Peeks and the first Scrapy Land Challenge

Happy Wednesday!! It's a busy day on my blog today...this is the first of three posts :) It's time for a new challenge at Decorate to Celebrate. For Challenge #84, we are asking you to create decorations for Fall or Birthdays!! Let's celebrate everything wonderful about falling leaves, crisp evenings, autumn harvest or birthdays with your table decorations, party banners, pennants, yard signs, cupcakes, party favors and more :)

For my fall project, I collected twigs from around the yard to make a decorative candle holder. You could use a glass candle holder but I used a can that held crab meat. I painted it black and then adhered the twigs with hot glue. The ribbon is from my stash. The tags are layers of Tiny Doilies dies from My Craft Spot. Fall is from an old K Andrew Designs stamp.

I am entering this in the following challenges:

1. DL.Art - September Linky 

Now it's your turn...head on over to Decorate to Celebrate to see the projects my design team sisters have created for today's challenge. Then link up your Fall or Birthday project...I can't wait to see what you create :)

Getting Cricky Design Team Post - Thankful

Happy Friday!! Another weekend is upon us, and another week where I have no idea where the days went...they are flying by!! It's my turn to post a design team project at Getting Cricky, and I have a Thanksgiving card to share with you.

For my Thankful card, I used a couple of different inking techniques. The base of the card is kraft stock, followed by Canvas Corp heavyweight white cardstock. Another piece of heavyweight white cardstock was cut with a Spellbinders Grand Rectangle. It was sprayed with Mister Huey's Color Mists in Overdue, Pumpkin Spice and Estate Green. It was then misted with water to merge the colors together, and then dried with a heat gun. Tattered Angles Glimmer Mist in Iridescent Gold was spritzed on next to give it a sparkly sheen. The edges were inked with Tim Holtz Vintage Photo Distress Ink.

I tried to get a close-up of the Glimmer Mist shimmer. It is really pretty in person.

A Spellbinders Deckled Rectangle was cut from heavyweight white cardstock and then inked with Tim Holtz Distress Ink in Fired Brick, Spiced Marmalade and Peeled Paint while it was still in the die so that the edges stayed white. It was then misted with Tattered Angles Glimmer Mist in Peach Delight. The leaf is a Spellbinders Foliage die, inked with the same Distress Inks and spritzed with Glimmer Mist in Iridescent Gold. It was attached with foam tape for dimension. The burlap is from Joann Fabric, the twine and button from my stash. "Thankful" is from K Andrew Designs Fall-O-Ween stamp set. I just checked, and unfortunately this set is sold out, but there are still a few sets left that are on clearance at 60%...click HERE to get yours before they are gone forever!!

I am entering this in the following challenges:

1. Simon Says Stamp - Thanksgiving/Thank You
2. Little Scrap Pieces Fun Friday - Happy Thanksgiving
   
3. DL.Art Thankful Thursday Challenge - Anything Goes
4. Sunday Funday #3 - Linky Party
5. Tuesday Alchemy #40 - Anything Goes

Thanks so much for stopping by today!! Have a fabulous weekend :)

Products Used:

Getting Cricky Design Team Post - Spooky!!

Happy Friday!! I can't believe another weekend is upon us...this year is flying by. It's my turn to post at Getting Cricky and for the last two weeks, the design team has followed the theme of Halloween. Unfortunately for me, my post day lands after Halloween, but I still have a spooky card to share with you. Here's a sneak peek:

For the details, please head on over to Getting Cricky. And if you want to pick up a Fall-O-Ween stamp set like the one I used today, or any of Kristal's stamps, they are all 60% off right now. Click HERE to visit her online store...but hurry, the inventory is going fast.

Thanks so much for stopping by!! Have a great weekend :)

Paper Playtime Challenge #87 - Anything Goes

Happy Monday, everyone!! It's time for another super-fun challenge at Paper Playtime!! It's a one week challenge and the theme is ANYTHING GOES. Our sponsor for this challenge is The Robin's Nest. The winner will receive a $15 gift certificate.

The paper for this Halloween card is from K&Company. The witch was cut from A Frightful Affair and popped up with foam tape. The toe of frog, witch's stew and bat wings labels were cut from a different piece of paper from the same stack.

The label is a Spellbinders Grommet Tags die. Best witches and the bats are from K Andrew Designs Fall-O-Ween stamp set. Click HERE to purchase this set or any K Andrew Designs set at 60% off.

I am entering this into the Red Carpet Studio Challenge #9 Pumpkins and Halloween.

Now it's your turn!! Head on over to Paper Playtime to see the amazing projects my design team sisters have created for today's challenge. Then link up your Anything Goes project...I can't wait to see what you create :)

Paper Playtime #86 - Booville!!

Happy Monday!! I hope you had a great weekend!! It's the third Monday of the month, so that means it's time for a Say It With Sentiments Challenge at Paper Playtime!! The theme this week is "Booville". Our sponsor is Mary at Cardz TV Stamps...the winner will receive a set of of Mary's Cardz TV stamps!!

For my project, I created a Halloween wall hanging. I love the spooky tree and graveyard design of the background paper from K&Company. The edges were distressed with a Zutter Distress-it-All, and then inked with Black Soot Distress Ink. Boo is from Base Camp, welded on my Gypsy with a ghost from Happy Hauntings. The paper for Boo is from Me and My Big Ideas Mambi stack.

Such a tiny spider to have woven such a huge web, huh??!! The spider is from the October 31 cart with red gems added for his eyes. The spider web I picked up in a flea market. It was a big bag and a little goes a long way so you will be seeing more of it on my upcoming projects :)

Happy Halloween is from K Andrew Designs Fall-O-Ween stamp set. The bat is from October 31.

I am entering this in the following challenges:

1. DL.Art Thankful Thursday Challenge - Linky Party
2. Sunday Funday #2 - Linky Party 
3. My Crafting Channel #1 - The Gh'oul Times

Now it's your turn!! Head on over to Paper Playtime to see the amazing projects by my talented design team sisters...then link up your Booville project!! I can't wait to see what you create :)

Decorate to Celebrate #35 - Halloween Party!!

Happy Wednesday!! It's time for another super-fun challenge at Decorate to Celebrate!! For Challenge #35, we are asking you to create any project to be used as a party decoration (or party supply) for a Halloween Party!! Let's celebrate everything wonderful about ghosts, goblins and ghouls with your table decorations, party banners, pennants, yard signs, cupcakes, party favors and more :)

I'd also like to welcome our newest Design Team Member, Judy from Judy's Handmade Creations!!

I have a quick and easy project to share today...a lighted pumpkin table decoration. The canister is from Michaels, and the paper is from K&Company. The face was cut from A frightful Affair.

The only white Christmas lights I had was a strand of like 100, so I had to really stuff them inside...but it looks really cool in the dark :) Happy Halloween is from K Andrew Designs Fall-O-Ween stamp set. Click HERE to purchase this set or to see her entire line.

Now it's your turn...head on over to Decorate to Celebrate to see the amazing projects my design team sisters have created for today's challenge. Then link up your Halloween Party decorations. I can't wait to see what you create :)

Paper Playtime #85 - Trick or Treat + Die Cut!!

Happy Monday!! Another auto-post today...but auto-post only works if you actually set a time for it to auto-post, which I did not...so this is a little late :/ It's the first Monday of October (how is that possible??) so that means it's time for a Delicious Die Cut Challenge at Paper Playtime!! The theme for Challenge #85 is Trick or Treat. Our sponsor for this challenge is The Robin's Nest. One winner chosen by random.org will win a $15 gift certificate!!

For my Trick or Treat project, I made a treat bag. The Paper is from K&Company. The base of the bag was cut first in cardboard to make it sturdy with a Spellbinders Grand Labels Four. The edges were inked with Spiced Marmalade Distress Ink.

The ghost tree and fence were cut from A Frightful Affair...my current favorite cart :) Both were popped up with foam tape for dimension. "Boo" is from K Andrew Designs Fall-O-Ween stamp set. Click HERE to purchase this set. The ribbon for the handle is from Hobby Lobby.

I am entering this in the following challenges:

1. Crafty Friends Challenge #7 - Halloween
2. DL.Art Thankful Thursday - Halloween/Fall Colors
3. Little Scrap Pieces - Use Twine
4. Sunday Funday - Linky Party
5. My Crafting Channel #1 - The Gh'oul Times

Now it's your turn...head on over to Paper Playtime to see the amazing projects my design team sisters have created for today's challenge!! Then link up your Halloween plus a die cut project!! I can't wait to see what you create :)

Thanks so much for stopping by while I'm gone!! I'll be home this weekend so I'll stop by and visit when I get back :)

Have An Owlsome Fall Y'All Blog Hop!!

Welcome to the 

Have An Owlsome Fall Y'All 

Blog Hop!!

If you arrived here from Paula's blog, then you are on track!! 

We are so happy to have you join us today!! The hop starts at Heather Lynn's blog so please start there. You won't want to miss out on any of these wonderful projects!! This is a 2 day hop and the line up will be different each day. Please start HERE today (9/22) and tomorrow (9/23), so we can send you in the right direction!!

Our first "Well Owl Be" Blog Hop went over so well, we decided to do an owl themed hop 4 times a year!! Our next hop will be right before Christmas and we hope you will come back and join us then, too!!

One grand prize winner will win a Cricut cartridge and a stamp set sponsored by Erica's Craft Room!! Thank you, Erica, you are so generous!! Please be a follower and leave a comment at all of the stops in the hop for the chance to win. There will also be other blog candy along the way!!

For my project, I created a canvas Halloween wall hanging. I didn't know where I was going with this, so I didn't take pictures or write down all the ingredients, but I'll try to remember. The background paper is from Me and My Big Ideas Spiders and Bats Mambi Stack. I used a small paper plate for the shape of the full moon and spritzed the canvas with Tattered Angels Glimmer Mist in Peach Delight. Once it dried, Spiced Marmalade and Wild Honey Distress Inks were added. The moon was inked with Mustard Seed and Scattered Straw Distress Inks. Crackle Medium was randomly applied around the canvas and then inked with Spiced Marmalade once it dried and cracked. The edges were covered in stencil paste and painted black once it dried. I wanted it to look like spider webs, so once the paint dried, I used an Adirondack Paint Dabber in Snow Cap. "Halloween", "Boo", "Spooky" and the bats are from K Andrew Designs Fall-O-Ween stamp set. Click HERE to purchase this set.

The owl is a Spellbinder's Nested Owl die. It was cut twice and then the top of his head, wings and feet were cut out. The eyes are a combination of Spellbinders Beaded Circle dies, Circle dies and punches. The edge of the Beaded Circle die was used to give feather definition to the wings with a Distress Marker in Peeled Paint, and then they were attached with foam tape.

I am entering this in the following challenges:

1. DL.Art Thankful Thursday Halloween or fall colors or an owl or all
2. Sunday Funday - Linky Party

I have blog candy!!

All you have to do to win this set of Cloud 9 Designs Halloween Rubber Stamps is:

1. Be a follower
2. Leave a comment here

That's it!! I will be out of town for two weeks, so I will choose a winner when I get back on October 7th.

Now make sure to head over to sweet and talented Heather's blog next. Here's the entire line-up in case you get lost along the way or want to revisit anyone:

Heather Lynn - http://heathernovinger.blogspot.com/

Jessica S - http://jessicascraftshaque.blogspot.com/

Ashley- http://thebloghopprincess.blogspot.com/

Norma G. - http://lilhoneybeestudios.blogspot.com/

Jessica E - http://chick-n-scrap.blogspot.com/

Scrapbook Joe - http://scrapbookjoeblog.blogspot.com/

Paula D. - http://scrapyourworld1.blogspot.com/

Lisa - http://indymermaid.blogspot.com/  < YOU ARE HERE

Heather E. - http://craftymamaof2heve.blogspot.com/ < NEXT

Decorate to Celebrate #34 - Birthday Party For a Grown-Up!!

Happy Wednesday!! It's challenge time at Decorate to Celebrate!! For Challenge #34, we are asking you to create any project to be used as a party decoration (or party supply) for a Birthday Party (for a grown up). Let's celebrate everything wonderful about climbing that hill or going over it with your table decorations, party banners, pennants, yard signs, cupcakes, party favors and more :)

I'd also like to welcome our newest design team member, Nana of My Crafting Channel!!

I have a quick and easy project for today. The inspiration for my hanging decoration came from a set of party lights. I would have loved to make a set of these with lights, but I was short on time. So I recreated the design without the light. The butterflies are Spellbinders Fancy Flight dies. For the hanging elements, I cut a piece of cardboard to fit inside and attached the butterflies and pearl ribbons, then glued the cardboard inside. "Happy" is from K Andrew Designs Fall-O-Ween stamp set, and "Birthday" is from K Andrew Designs "Sweet July" stamp sets. Click HERE to purchase these sets.

If I had made these with the lights, I would have put clear plastic behind the butterflies. I didn't have time to write down the instruction for the box element. This will be my last post before I leave for two weeks, but I can post them when I get back.

I am entering this in the following challenges:

1. DL.Art 1,000 Post Linky Party
2. Sunday Funday - Linky Party

Head on over to Decorate to Celebrate to see the amazing projects my design team sisters have created for today's challenge. Then link up your Birthday Party Decorations (for a grown up)!! I can't wait to see what you create!!

After tomorrow, I won't be able to stop by your blogs, but I will definitely catch up when I get back!!

Spooky Halloween and Happy Hop WINNER!!

Happy Thursday, everyone!! I hope you are having a great week!! I have a winner to announce from the Happy Hop, but first, I have a card to enter into a few challenges :)

I used the Crafty Friends sketch (see below) for this Halloween card. All of the papers are from Me and My Big Ideas Spiders and Bats Mambi Stack.

I  ♥ my Zutter Distress-It-All!! It was used on all the edges, then they were inked with Black Soot Distress Ink...I thought it made the edges look like they had been burned. The orange paper is a Spellbinders Grand Rectangle. The tag is a Spellbinders Tags and Flags die, the edges inked with Black Soot. The skeleton is from Happy Hauntings, lightly inked with Antique Linen and Frayed Burlap for an aged look. The stitching is by hand because I wanted it thicker than my sewing machine could stitch. The adorable crystal spider and web are from my sweet friend Sharon of Mee Mee's Creations. I won her awesome blog candy giveaway...thanks again, Sharon!! The spider reflected the light but I thought it looked cool :) The banners are Spellbinders Nested Pennant dies. "Spooky" and the bats are from K Andrew Designs Fall-O-Ween stamp set:

Click HERE to purchase this set or to see her entire line of stamps.

I am entering the card in the following challenges:

1. Crafty Friends #6 - Use Sketch  (see below)
2. Little Scrap Pieces - Halloween
3. DL.Art 1,000 Post Linky Party
4. Sunday Funday - Linky Party

BLOG CANDY WINNER

And now for the WINNER of Beckie's 1 Year Anniversary Happy Hop of a 6x6 Bo Bunny Garden Girl paper stack!! Random.org chose...

And #27 is....................................................................................

Congrats Jessica!! I will email you or you can email me at indymermaid(at)gmail(dot)com and I will get the paper in the mail to you!! I will announce the winner of the stamp set from Chriss's Birthday Blog Hop either tomorrow or Saturday.

Thanks so much for stopping by!! Have a great day :)

Chriss's Birthday Blog Hop!!

Welcome to Chriss's Birthday Blog Hop!!

♫ ♫ ♫ HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU ♫ ♫ ♫

♫ ♫ ♫ HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU ♫ ♫ ♫

♫ ♫ ♫ HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO CHRISS ♫ ♫ ♫

♫ ♫ ♫ HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU ♫ ♫ ♫ 

Today we are celebrating our sweet and talented friend, Chriss America Real's, birthday with a fabulous Hop! You should be arriving from Jovan's Blog. If not, please start from the beginning with Chriss - http://chrissandlou.blogspot.com/.

Hop along to see what each of her friends have created to wish her a Fabulous Birthday!!!

There are some wonderful prizes to be won from the Birthday Girl herself and there is sure to more fun prizes offered along the Hop!

Here are the fantastic Prizes The Birthday Girl is Offering for Hopping along:

1. 1st Prize: Photo Box (2 lights, tripod, 4 backgrounds, and it folds up into its own carrying case)
2. 2nd Prize: Stamp Set with fun shapes and animals
3. 3rd Prize: Paper set with brads, stickers and embellishments

To be eligible to win:

1. You MUST be a follower of Scrappin' With Chriss and Lou
2. Add the Birthday Badge to your Blog Sidebar
3. Hop along on September 10th

This is the card and gift box I will be sending to Chriss :)

The base of the card is a Spellbinders Romantic Rectangle die. The paper is from the DCWV Summer Stack that I won from Craftin Desert Divas...thanks again Tara and April!! The next layer is also a Romantic Rectangle, embossed with a Sizzix Hibiscus folder and inked with Victorian Velvet Distress Ink. The next two layers are Spellbinders Ornate Artisan Tags and Accents dies, inked with Victorian Velvet. The stamp is from K Andrew Designs Sweet July stamp set (I love this sentiment for birthday cards!!) Click HERE to purchase it. The flip flops are Spellbinders Surf's Up dies, inked with Victorian Velvet. Another pair was cut in white and popped underneath with foam tape for dimension. The gems are from Recollections and the ribbon is from May Arts.

The inside features another Romantic Rectangle and "Happy" from K Andrew Designs Fall-O-Ween stamp set and "Birthday" also from Sweet July.

For the box, the Spellbinders Surf's Up flip flops were cut into the top and pink crystals were added for the straps. The base of the box is embossed with a Cuttlebug Plum Blossoms folder. "Dream" is a Spellbinders Girlie Grunge Label, inked with Victorian Velvet.

I am entering this in the following challenges:

1. DL.Art Thankful Thursday - Watch the Video
2. Sunday Funday - Linky Party

I have blog candy!! In honor of my sweet friend Chriss's birthday, I am giving away a set of Fiskars Perfect Blend stamps:

All you have to do to be eligible to win is:

1. Be a follower
2. Leave a comment here

That's it!! I will announce a winner on Friday, September 14th.

Now you will be heading over to Heather's blog!! Here is the Hop Lineup in case you get lost along the way.

Chriss -http://chrissandlou.blogspot.com/
Jessica S - http://jessicascraftshaque.blogspot.com
Heather D - http://joemamainks.blogspot.com/
Jovan - http://www.cardsbyjovan.com/
Lisa - http://indymermaid.blogspot.com < YOU ARE HERE
Heather L.- http://heathernovinger.blogspot.com/ < NEXT
Gloria - http://www.omascrafts.com/
Sheryl - http://butterflykisscards.blogspot.com/
Lisa B. Mensing - http://paradeyourcrafts.blogspot.com/
Colleen - http://copicmarkerscrapbooking.wordpress.com
Shirl - http://creationbyshirl.blogspot.com
Melissa - http://createdbysunshinehoneybee.blogspot.com

Thank you for joining us in celebrating and we hope you enjoy hopping along!

Decorate to Celebrate #33 - Autumn Party!!

Happy Wednesday!! It's time for another super-fun challenge at Decorate to Celebrate!! For Challenge #33, we are asking you to create any project to be used as a party decoration (or party supply) for an Autumn Party!! Let's celebrate everything wonderful about falling leaves, crisp evenings and Autumn harvest with your table decorations, party banners, pennants, yard signs, cupcakes, party favors and more :)

For my Autumn Party decorations, I created a 3D pumpkin centerpiece. I got the idea for these pumpkins on Holly Simoni's blog HERE. I didn't have the same die she used, so I used Spellbinders Big Scalloped Ovals Large.

I cut eighteen of two different sizes of the dies on orange cardstock. The edges were inked with Spiced Marmalade Distress Ink. Each cut was folded in half and creased with a bone folder for a crisp fold, then the bottom was snipped off so they would sit easily. The sides of two dies were glued together, and you continue this until you've used all the dies and then secure the last two sides together. The leaves are from Spellbinders Bitty Blossoms, and the swirls are Tim Holtz Elegant Flourishes dies.

Happy Harvest and the corner flourishes are from K Andrew Designs Fall-O-Ween stamp set. Click HERE to purchase this set.

I am entering this in the DL.Art 1,000 Post Linky Party.

Now it's your turn!! Head on over to Decorate to Celebrate to see the amazing projects my Design Team sisters have created for today's challenge. Then link up your Autumn Party projects!! I can't wait to see what you create :)

Simply Sunday Challenge - Happy Fall Y'all!!

Happy Sunday!! I hope you are having a great weekend!! It's time for another Simply Sunday Challenge at Getting Cricky, and I'm sad to announce it will be the last SS Challenge. There will be some exciting changes at Getting Cricky in the next few weeks so stay tuned :) The theme for the final challenge is Happy Fall Y'all.

The base of this card is a Spellbinders Grand Square. The background is a Crafter's Workshop Aspen Trees stencil, inked with Vintage Photo and Walnut Distress Inks.

The leaves are Spellbinders Nested Maple Leaves dies, embossed with the Swirls embossing Folder and inked with Fired Brick and Spiced Marmalade Distress inks.

The large leaf was embossed with Swirls and then inked with Walnut Distress Ink. It was then run through the Grand Calibur again without the embossing folder to flatten the image so the stamp would stamp smoothly. The stamps are from K Andrew Designs Fall-O-Ween:

I am entering this in the DL.Art 1,000 Post Linky Party.

Now it's your turn!! Head on over to Getting Cricky to see the amazing projects my Design Team sisters have created for today's challenge, then link up your Happy Fall Y'all projects!! I can't wait to see what you create :)

Halloween Mini Pages, Blog Hop Winner and a Request!!

Happy Friday!! I hope you have fun plans for the long weekend!! We are supposed to get anywhere from 5-7 inches of rain so that will put a damper on Labor Day cookouts :(

I was able to squeeze in time in my craft room to create Halloween mini pages for a page swap hosted by my dear friend Rhonda of Scrap Happens! I made two pages exactly the same - one for a swap recipient and one for Rhonda - so I can show you both sides at the same time.

The paper and tags are from my sweet friend Cheri of DJ Sundries. The mummy and coffin are from Happy Hauntings, cut at 4", as is the word Spooky, cut at 2.5". The mummy is inked with Frayed Burlap and Old Paper Distress Ink to give him an aged look. The top of the coffin was attached with foam tape for dimension.

The tags pull out so you can add a picture to one and journaling to the other. They were inked with Old Paper and Walnut Distress Ink. "Happy Halloween", "boo", and "eeek" are from K Andrew Designs Fall-o-ween stamp set. The spider web is from the Joann dollar bin and I can't remember where the line stamp is from.

On this side, the tree is from October 31 and the witch is from Happy Hauntings. The banner tag is a Spellbinders Nested Pennants die, inked with Old Paper and Walnut Distress Inks. The frame for the picture is a Spellbinders Deckled Rectangle Large die. I used a size smaller inside the larger to cut the black frame and attached it on three sides, leaving the top open so a picture can slide in. "Too cute to spook" on the journaling tag, "best witches" and the bat are also from K Andrew Designs Fall-o-ween:

The sentiments are perfect for all your fall and Halloween projects!! Click HERE to purchase this set or to see the entire line of stamps.

I am entering this in the DL.Art 1,000 Post Linky Party.

Pinterest Request

The pencil box I made for the Getting Cricky Blog Hop (you can see it HERE) is a finalist for the ConsumerCrafts.com Back-to-School Crafter's Challenge!! If you are on Pinterest and you liked the project, I would appreciate it if you could go to this LINK and repin it. The project with the most repins wins a prize. I do have to say, I don't like the blurb under my project. You had to fill out a questionnaire and one of the questions was "I deserve to win because" and they used that only on mine!! I don't like that it makes me sound arrogant...I deserve to win...when that was the question they asked, not what I would have written. I don't think I deserve to win...everyone is as deserving as me. Ugh. Anyway, thanks so much if you do repin :)


Karen's Birthday Blog Hop Winner

I know this is really late and I apologize. Random.org selected as the winner of the Heidi Grace stamp set from Karen's Birthday Blog Hop:

And #27 is................................................................................

Congratulations, Carri!! I will leave you a message or you can email your address to me at indymermaid(at)gmail(dot)com and I will get the stamps in the mail to you.

You only have a little over a day to enter my 1,000 follower giveaway!! The giveaway ends at midnight on August 31. I will announce the winner within the next two days. Click HERE to enter.

Thanks for stopping by and have a great weekend :)